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Distributed modelling of snow water equivalent - coupling a snow accummulation and melt model and GIS


Spatial distribution of modelled melt outflows shown in Fig. 9 represent interesting visualization of the snowmelt process. It is clear that snowmelt during the first event around 9 March occurred only in the lower part of the catchment. On 25 March the snow melted only on the very small area at lower elevations. At the beginning of the main snowmelt phase the melt occurred almost in the whole catchment except for the highest sites. Whole catchment contributed to snowmelt on 22 April. Elevation seems to be the most important factor influencing the spatial distribution of areas with melting snow. Much higher snowmelt occurred along the forest line. All these results comply with the knowledge of snowmelt spatial distribution in mountains. Thus, the modelled results seem to be reasonable. 


Fig. 7 Comparison of measured (blue circles) and simulated (lines) snow water equivalents at sites with different characteristics.





Fig. 8 Simulated spatial distributions of snow water equivalent [mm] at the beginning of winter (1.1.2000) and at time of maximum accumulation (7.4.2000).

Fig 9 Spatial distribution of outflow from melting snow; white colour indicates no melt in the catchment.


Fig. 10 Comparison of catchment integrated melt outflow (modelled) with runoff measured at catchment outlet.



Distributed version of the energy balance UEB model provided acceptable simulations of snow water equivalent in the mountain basin of the Jalovecky creek for most sites with field observations. Interesting analyses can be made using modelled melt outflows. Due to its physical basis, the model should be applied with relatively small effort also in other mountain catchments. Proper estimation of snow redistribution by wind above the forest line is important for successful modelling of spatial variability of snow water equivalent. Further research should therefore address objective parameterisation of the drift factor. Forest line have large significant impact on the distribution of snow cover and consequently also on snowmelt. Verification of modelled results on snowmelt along the forest line with field measurements should also be performed in future research.

References
  • Bengtsson, L., Singh, V.P., 2000: Model Sophistication in Relation to Scales in Snowmelt Runoff Modeling. Nordic Hydrology, 31 (4/5), 267-286.
  • Liston, G.E., Sturm, M., 1998: A snow transport model for complex terrain. Journal of Glaciology, vol. 44, no. 148, 498-516.
  • Mészároš, I. 1998. Modelling of incoming solar radiation in mountain basin. (in Slovak). Acta Hydrologica Slovaca 1 : 68-75.
  • McKay, G., Gray, D.M., 1981: The distribution of snowcover. In Handbook of Snow, Principles, Processes, Management&Use, edited by D.M.Gray and D.H. Male, Pergamon press, chapter 5. 
  • Tarboton, D., Luce, D., 1996: Utah Energy Balance Snow Accumulation and Melt Model (UEB). Computer model technical description and users guide. Utah State University and USDA Forest Service, 39 pp.
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